Which statement best describes meter in poetry?

• A. Poetry cannot be metered.
• B. Poetry can be metered with a rhythmic pattern.
• C. Poetry must rhyme in every line.
• D. Poetry is always written in prose.

Answer: (B)

Meter in poetry is the organized rhythm created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. Poets describe this rhythm with terms like feet (iambs, trochees, etc.) and often arrange it into a regular cycle, such as iambic pentameter. Saying that poetry can be metered with a rhythmic pattern captures exactly what meter is: a predictable beat that shapes pace, emphasis, and musical quality. Not all poems use meter—many adopt free verse with irregular rhythm—so meter isn’t the same as rhyme or prose. Meter focuses on the arrangement of sounds and stresses, giving poetry its characteristic tempo and flow.